Taking a Trip to Napa Valley

There are two types of vacations, the adventurous vacation and the relaxation vacation. The adventurous vacation involves things like hiking Machu Picchu, white water rafting down the Colorado River, zip lining through the Costa Rican jungle and parasailing high over the shores of Maui. The relaxing vacation involves 3 basic things: eating, drinking and, you guessed it, relaxing. You can relax by the ocean, relax by the pool or relax with a view of the mountains. But there is nothing like relaxing with a glass of wine in your hand while admiring the breathtaking views of some of the world’s most beautiful vineyards, without ever having to leave California. Napa Valley leaves nothing to be desired for those who take their easy-going getaways seriously. Between the fine dining, the fine wine and the world class accommodations, Napa has become a quintessential laid-back West Coast vacation destination. 

First things first, you need a place to lay your head after wine tasting all day, and there are no shortage of decadent hotels and resorts in Napa. Here we’ll list our top 5 choices of where you should stay if you appreciate impeccable service, luxuriously appointed suites and great attention to detail, when visiting California’s wine country.

Carneros Resort and Spa

The accommodations at Carneros are residence like. They range in size and offer appointments such as fireplaces, terraces and full kitchens.  Even though the resort spans a massive 28 acres, the design makes you feel comfortable, cozy and very much at home. The resort also offers a full spa, pools and on-site dining.

Meadowood

The resort is nestled in a forest like, rustic setting and the individual rooms have their own unique titles and amenities.   Guests often return and stay in their favorite suite time and again. There is a focus on wellness and their newly renovated spa reflects that.  They offer complimentary transportation for those who choose to leave the comfort and serenity of the property.

Wine Country Inn & Cottages

For those people whose trip is laser focused on wine-tasting, the Wine Country Inn offers an unrivaled location in the heart of Napa, near several of the most highly acclaimed wineries.  The hotel offers a breakfast buffet each morning and a wine reception Friday and Saturday evenings that is hosted by local vintners.

Bardessono

While Napa could be classified by many as Old World California, Bardessono offers a more progressive type of stay.  The resort prides itself on being modern and eco-friendly while still raising the bar when it comes to offering a 5-star experience.  Test drive a Hybrid Lexus, bring your favorite 4-legged friend on the trip and plant herbs in the Guest Garden. Bardessono offers a unique and progressive Napa experience. 

Auberge du Soleil

This resort makes the list not only for its majestic beauty and unmatched luxury, but for it’s not to be missed reservation at “The Restaurant.”  The Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil boasts 13 consecutive Michelin Star awards and diners have access to the hotel’s renowned 15,000 bottle wine cellar, along with the million-dollar views. 

Auberge offers us the perfect transition point to mention just a few of the restaurants that make up an expansive list of stellar dining options in Napa.  The area is a hot bed for Michelin Star rated restaurants, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to fully experience the culinary phenomenon that is Napa. Here are our top picks:

La Toque – French, Chef Ken Frank, located in the Westin near downtown Napa

Morimoto Napa – Japanese, Iron Chef’s Masaharu Morimoto, located in downtown Napa

French Laundry – French American, Chef Thomas Keller, located in Yountville

Torc – New American, Chef Sean O’Toole, located in downtown Napa

Once you have your hotel booked and your dinner reservations made, it’s time to move on to the real reason you’ve planned this romantic, relaxing getaway to California Wine Country, the wine! Whether you have a sophisticated palette or a simple desire to taste great wine, Napa has you covered. There are vast estates with large scale production facilities and small, family owned and operated wineries. There are wineries known for their full-bodied Cabs and wineries famous for their buttery Chardonnay’s. It really comes down to your taste and how many days you have set aside to drink your way through this beautiful and seductive region. 

Here we will list some of the wineries we consider must-sees.  

Chateau Montelena

This iconic winery is what the movie “Bottle Shock” is based on. The family owned vineyard was instrumental in putting Napa on the global wine map and proving that California wine could hold its own against some of the world’s most renowned European vintages.

Domaine Carneros – You will feel like French royalty as you gaze upon the Chateau, stroll the lush gardens and sip on some the region’s most acclaimed sparkling wine.

Piazza Del Dotto Winery & Caves

It isn’t always about sipping wine in the California sun. This winery experience takes you deep into the wine caves for a different perspective on wine making and tastings right out of the barrel.

Sterling Vineyards

Take the aerial tram to reach the gorgeous hilltop winery and enjoy breathtaking 360-degree views of the Napa Valley along the way.

Grgich Hills Estate

Like a scene straight out of “I Love Lucy,” if you visit this winery toward the end of August you can participate in their annual grape stomping.  This is perfect for those as interested in the winemaking as they are in the wine-tasting.

When you pair delicious food and wine with the stunning backdrop that is the Napa Valley, you are bound to create an unforgettable getaway.  Just know that there are a plethora of wineries and restaurants to explore so don’t limit yourself. The worst thing that can happen is you have to plan a trip back to taste what you missed the first time around!